Cabinet construction



Oct. 29, 1935. I z CHAFEE CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. s, 1930 3Sheet-Sheet 1 I 122111 7018 31/ 2 2 v M A Tram/ Oct. 29, 1935. z. CHAFEE2,019,045

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 5, 1950 s Shet-Sheet 2 ii? j 2 6M[IV/25222:? I wyfiy Patented Oct. 2 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICECABINET CONSTRUCTION 1 Zechariah Chafee, Providence, B. I.

Application December 5, 1930, Serial No. 500,319

- 11 Claims. (01.128-37) My invention relates to improvements in cabinetconstruction, particularly in atype of cabinet adapted to be used ininsulated gas and electric ranges as ovens, burner units, etc. "'Anobject of 5 my invention is to provide a cabinet constructionparticularly adapted for gas ranges in which all operative partsincluding the panel side walls, all insulation right up to the cornersthereof and all working parts are directly mounted on a rigidreinforcing frame.

In such cabinet constructions, it has become the fashion to ornament theexposed surfaces of the visible top, front and side walls of thecabinet. The usual method of ornamenting the exposed surfaces is toenamel them. It is well known that if the enameled surfaces are exposedto rough handling in transit they are apt to crack and if in use theyare subjected to any strain caused by temperature changes or otherwise,they are apt m to buckle or if expanded to crack. Since the demand forenameled ornamented surfaces has arisen in cabinets of this descriptionthere has been practically no change in the inherent constructionthereof and such cabinets have not been 5 built taking intoconsideration the perishable nahandle economically should be handledwith as much care as glass. While a change has become evident in thebuilding industry and it has been 30 recognized therein that the mosteconomical and practical way to construct a building is to provide arigid frame therefor first and later attach the walls and roof on to theframe, cabinet constructions have generally still been built inaccordance 35 with theold style building construction.

An object of my invention therefore is to provide a cabinet with a rigidreinforcing frame like a skyscraper capable of sustaining all strainswithout appreciable deformation and readily detachable panel members forthe top, front and side walls which may be readily hung on the frame inorder not to subject them to any strain in use. I thus construct myimproved cabinet so that the steel or other rigid framework may take allthe 15 strains of each unit attached to it and'consequentture of theenameled surface, which in order to handling. At present the crate forshipping a cabinet of this description has to be made so strong that theframe work will not be deformed in shipping. By making the framework onwhich the other parts are hung so strong that it can not 5 be distortedin shipping, I am enabled to ship cabinets of this description in lessexpensive crates, or even without crates in some instances.

A further object of my invention is to so mount the walls or panelmembers onto the frame that 10 no unit thereof will be subjected to anystrain in connection with any other unit but so that each unit may beattached as directly as possible to the framenot related to any otherunit.

The advantage of such a construction of having 15 each of the walls orpanel members attached to the frame independently of the other members,are the ease of interchangeability of panels and the. possibility ofpostponing their attachment until late in the process of manufacture ofthe cabinet. v

A further advantage of so mounting the side walls or other panel memberson such a rigid framework is to provide a cabinet frame with thesuitable or desired attachments directly mounted thereon, such as gasburners, etc. and to provide panel or side members which may be attachedthereto which may be easily changed without interfering with the generalstructural arrange-'- ment of the cabinet. As in my improvedconstruction the cabinet members bear a relatively small cost to thecost of the mechanism normally the latest style and provide panelmembers which 5 i may be interchanged for old style panel members inwhole or in part without interfering with the general structuralarrangement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cabinet constructionwherein the panels can be 40 readily replaced, if one should, becomedamaged in the shop or in transit, bythe ultimate consumer or his repairman and could if desired be shipped separately and attached in the home,thereby reducing the liability of panel breakage.

A further object of my invention is to lessen the cost of inventory incabinet constructions of this description as with a change of style itis only necessary to provide new replaceable panel members to replacethose which have gone out of style and not carry entire cabinets withtheir inner working parts which will have to be entirely replaced whenthey go out of style.

A further object of my invention is to so attach the detachable panelmembers or walls to the frame that their points of attachment willnormally be concealed in use. 7

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appearwill be best understood from a description of an embodiment thereofapplied to a gas stove construction such as is shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas stove constructedin accordance with the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rigid framework preferablyconstructed of steel and preferably rectangular I employ capable ofsustaining all strains without appreciable deformation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view generally similar to Fig. 1 with thecooking spider and upper burner removed andportions of the wall beingbroken away and shown in section to show the construction thereof.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective view showing the framework with theoperating parts mounted thereon and the various detachable side, frontand top panels I preferably employ.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout, in generally indicates a gas stove constructed inaccordance with. the teachings of my invention. While I have shown myinvention applied to a gas stove it is obvious that it may be employedin any type of a heating cabinet construction, particularly a cabinetconstruction adapted to hold a plurality of working parts and toinsulate them from the exterior thereof, such as gas or electric ranges,burner units, etc., and I employ the words operative parts to include anoperative mechanism, such as a burner. As stated, I provide a rigidframework l2 constructed so as to sustain all strain without appreciabledeformation, such as strain occurring in the actual manufacture,transportation or use of such a cabinet. The frame work 12 in thepreferred embodiment includes horizontally and vertically extendingright angle bars I4 attached together to form a rectangular frame and Ipreferably rivet and spot-weld said angle bars l4 together to form athoroughly rigid inner structural skeleton frame including spaced rigidvertically and horizontally extending bars I l. The frame i2 may ifdesired be suitably mounted on legs it, which if desired may have theirexposed surfaces suitably ornamented as with enamel or otherwise.

As stated hitherto I preferably provide a cabinet construction which maybe readily set up or knocked down if desired for any purpose by theultimate consumer. In my preferred embodiment I have shown a gas burnerwhich as in similar heating cabinet constructions has certain workingparts which is desired to mount therein. I thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and4, directly mount the gaspipes l8 and burners 20 on the members.

22 directly attached to the frame l2. A cabinet of this constructionhaving operating parts oftentimes has to be either insulated to keep theheat therein and it is necessary to provide insulating panels 24 or toprovide interior cabinet walls 26 for separating parts of the interiorof the cabinet rectly hung on the frame and the partitions" are securedto the frame by the members 28. These members are usually hung on theinterior of the frame so that the rigid exterior thereof may protectthem in shipment and thus a cab- 5 the frame thus assembled at the homeof the. ultimate consumer thereby permittingthe panel members which arerelatively more fragile than the cabinet so constructed and protectedinshipment by the rigid frame to be shipped in separate 20 containersand to be readily and inexpensively set up at the ultimate consumer'shome by either a the ultimate consumer or a repair man and that they maybe later interchanged in accordance with changes in style. It isobvious, however, '25 that the construction of the operating partsinsulation and partitions of my invention is such that even they ifdesired may also be readily set up or knocked down at the ultimateconsumers.

I provide the readily detachable panel members 30 forming the cabinetside walls 30, the cabinet front wall 32 and the cabinet top wall 34.These members form substantially the entire exposed surface of thecompleted cabinet and in the embodiment shown the back wall 36 may beomitted 35 if desired or unornamented, in the embodiment shown the backbeing closed in by merely the insulation 26. However, if desired, it isobvious that the back panel could be also overlappingly attached in asimilar manner to the front or side 40 panels. As shown my improved typeof insulation comprises an intermediate insulating medium 25 and rigidsheets 21 enclosing said medium 25 and it is apparent that in theconstruction shown the rear surface of the sheet 21 may form asufficient 45 back for the cabinet although, of course, it is notnecessarily ornamental.

A feature of my invention resides in the fact that I hold the panelmembers of said frame in such a manner that the panel members are re- 50lieved of all strain and may expand or contract independently of theframe and I do this in what I believe is a novel manner. I rigidlyattach one edge only of said panel, members whether they be the sidepanel members 30, the front panel 55 member 32 or the top panel member34 to the rigid framework l2 and I so construct the cabinet that theother edges of'said panels are held on the frame by overlappingconstraint of other cabinet portions only, whereby said panel mem- 60bers may expand or contract independently of the framework and withoutstrain thereon. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 I provide readily detachableside panels 30 for said frame each'having an ornamented outer surface3|. that the exposed surface of the panel members .may be ornamented inany suitable manner either by different colors, different shapes,embossing, etc. although my invention is particularly adapted forusewith exposed surfaces 3| 70 enameled as usual. The detachable sidepanels 30 are preferably provided as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 withinturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame edges such asthe top flanges 36, the bottom flanges 38 and the rear to It is obvious65 g flanges 40. I preferably attach the panel mem bers to the frame sothat their points of attachment will be concealed and I thus provide therear inturned flange 40 with the bolt holes 42 through which the bolts43 may project to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange 42 to the rearside of said rear side right angle bar 44 provided with the cooperatingbolt holes 46. As stated the side, top and front panel members, whichare the only exposed members in the present construction each have oneend thereof rigidly attached to the frame and the opopsite edge thereofadapted to be held in position onthe frame by overlapping engagement ofother cabinet portions and for this purpose I provide the side panelwith an inset front flange 48 adapted to overlie the side wall 50 of therespective front side right angle frame bar 52 and be retainedthereagainst by the overlapping flange 58 of the front panel member 32.In attachment it is obvious that the side panel will be brought adjacentthe frame as shown in Fig. 4, the inset flange thereof rigidly attachedto the rear side of its respective upright rear side right angle bar 44by medium of the bolts 43 and it is thus obvious in use that saidsidepanel 30 may expand or contract horizontally, the inset flange 48 merelysliding underneath the flange 58. Theinturned' top and bottom flanges 36and 38 are spaced apart relative to the height of the frame so that theywill not contract vertically to bind on the frame.

- As stated I also provide a readily detachable front panel 32 for saidframe also having an enameled or otherwise ornamented outer surface 3|.Said front panel is provided with the intumed side flanges 58 spacedapart more than the length of the frame and adapted to overlapplnglyengage the respective inset front flange 48 of the side panel 3| withsufficient space to permit normal horizontal contraction and expansionthereof. The bottom portion of the front panel 32 is adapted to berigidlyattached to the frame and for this purpose is provided with thethreaded recesses 56 opening forwardly from the inside wall thereofadapted to be secured by means of the bolts 51 in said recesses 56 andthrough suitable holes 59 in the lower front right angle bar Bl. Theupper end 54 of said front panel member 32 is retained against the framein a manner to be described. In practice it is obvious that the frontpanel 32 is attached to the frame before the side panels 30 in orderthat inset front flanges 48 thereof may be connected underneath thealready attached side flanges 58 of said front panel member 32.

I also provide a readily detachable top panel 34 for said frame, alsohaving an ornamented preferably enameled outer surface 3! and downturned edge flanges 60 adapted to overlie and frictionally constrain thefront panel 32 and side panels 30 to said frame to permit relative ex-''holes 61 therein. It is thus obvious that like a can top with downtumedflanges, the toppanel 34 will rest on top of the improved cabinetagainst the upper edges '10 of the respective top right angle front andrear skeleton frame forming bars to bear all the strain of the carryingtension 13 of the front panel 32 to form a channel 14 exterior of theframe body for mounting the angle cocks therein for turning on and offthe supplyof gas to the respective burners 20.

It is thus obvious that I have provided a novel type of cabinetconstruction in which all the working parts and insulation thereof aredirectly attached and hung on a rigid frame and in which the replaceableside panels thereof are directly attached and hung on the frame alongone edge thereof and are retained against the frame by overlappingconstraint of other members also having one edge thereof directlyattached to the frame, retained thereby against the frame, that I haveprovided a cabinet construction which may be readily assembled with a'minimum amount of effort by the ultimate consumer and which may beshipped in parts, that I have provided a cabinet construction whichas anoperating unit may 'be' shipped in amanner thoroughly protected by arigid frame thereof with minimum cratage and transportation cost, andthat I have provided a cabinet construction the exposed parts of whichmay readily set up by the ultimate consumer or a repair man and may bereadily replaced by him with other respective panels to meet changes instyle design or color. Thus it is merely necessary for a dealer to stocka limited supply of cabinet operating units and he may also have instock various ornamental panels of different colors, shapes, finishes,etc. and he thus may be able'to sell to the ultimate consumer a completeunit equipped with the ornamentation the particular ultimate consumerdesires, without having to carry a large stock of complete ranges with aconsequent large reduction of capital tied up in inventory.

It is apparent that my invention is particularly adapted for use withpanel 'members adapted to be damaged by strain, such as enameled panelmembers, painted panel members, or electroplated panel members of whichthe flnish is likely to crack or peel under strain. Insofar as thisfeature of my invention is concerned, however, it is apparent that thinpanelsv may be employed, which would similarly be damaged by strain astending to buckle. I therefore, employ the word "flnished or wordsfinished surface to cover any panel surface that would be impaired underexpansion and contraction if both ends were rigidly connected.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown, but that'various deviations may be made therefrom bothin the construction and type of cabinet desired without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a'cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation, readily detachable panel members forming the cabinet side,front'and top walls, having flnished exposed surfaces and means forrigidly attaching one edge only of said panel members to theframe, atleast one other edge of each of said side and front panel members beingheld ished exposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edgeonly of said panel members to the frame-work, at least one other edge ofeach of said side panel members being held in position on the frame-workonly by overlapping constraint of the front panel member.

3. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open frameworksumciently rigid of itself to sustain all strains withoutappreciabledeformation, readily detachable panel -members forming thecabinet side, 'front and top walls, and means for rigidly attaching oneedge only of said panel members to the frame-work, at least the oppositeedge of each of said side and front panel members being held in positionon the frame-work by overlapping constraint of other panel members only.

4. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation, comprising right angle bars joined together, a readilydetachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outer surfaceand side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame baredges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom frontright angle frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said frameeach having enameled exposed surfaces and top, bottom and rear inturnedflanges adapted to overlie the. respective frame edges and an insetfront flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the front panelmember to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner topermitexpansion and contraction of said side panel, means to rigidly attachthe rear inturned flange thereof to the rear side of said rear sideright angle frame bar and a readily detachable top panel for said framehaving an enameled surface and downturned edge flanges adapted tooverlie and overlappingly constrain the front and side panels to saidframe to permit relative expansion and contraction thereof, and means torigidly attach the rear downturned flange to the rear side of the toprear right angle frame bar;

5. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid frameworkcapable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformationcomprising bars joined together, a readily detachable front panel forsaid cabinet having side inturned flanges adapted to overlie therespective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereofto the bottom front frame bar, readily detachable side panels for saidframe each having top, bottom and rear inturned flanges adapted 'tooverlie the respective frame edges and an inset front flange adapted tounderlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain thefront edge thereof in a manner to permit expansion and contraction ofsaid side panel, means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flangethereof to the rear side frame bar, and a readily detachable top panelfor said frame having downturned edge flanges adapted to overlie andoverlappingly constrain the front and side panels to said frame topermit relative expansion and contraction thereof and means to rigidlyattach the downturned'flange to the rear top frame bar.

6. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid frameworkcapable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformationcomprising bars Joined together, areadily detachable front panel havingside inturned flanges for said cabinet, means to rigidly attach thebottom end thereof to the bottom front frame bar, readily detachableside panels for said frame each having an inset front flange adapted tounderlie the side flange of the front panel member to constrain thefront edge thereof in a manner to permit expansion and contraction ofsaid side panels, means to rigidly attach the rear end thereof to therear side frame bar, and a readily detachable top panel for said frameand means to I rigidly attach the rear end to the rear topframe bar. 7

'7. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation comprising right angle bars joined together, a readilydetachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outersurface, side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective framebar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottomfront right angle frame bar and a readily detachable top panel for saidframe having an enameled surface, a downturned rear flange and adownturned front flange adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrainthe front panel to said frame to permit relative expansion andcontraction thereof, and means to rigidly attach the rear downturnedflange to the rear side of the top rear right angle frame bar. j

8. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capableof sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation comprising bars joined together, a readily detachable frontpanel for said cabinet having side inturned flanges adapted to overliethe respective frame bar edges, means to rigidly attach the bottomthereof to said bottom front frame bar and a readily detachable toppanel for said frame having a downturned rear flange and a downtumedfront flange adapted to overlie and overlappingly constrain the frontpanel to said frame to permit relative expansion and contractionthereof, and means to rigidly attach the rear inturned flange to the toprear frame bar.

9. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularopen framework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation, readily detachable panel member:

forming the cabinet front and top walls, having finished exposedsurfaces and means for rigid];

attaching one edge only of said panel member: to the frame-work, theopposite edges of said front and top panels being arranged and adaptedto be held in position in over-lapping relatior on the frame-work.

10. In a cabinet construction, the combinatior of a rigid open frameworkcapable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation, areadily detachable panel member forming the cabinet front wall, otherpanel members and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of saidpanel member to the frame-work, at least one 01 the other edges of saidpanel being adapted and arranged to be held in position on theframe-work by overlapping constraint of one of said othei panel membersonly.

11. In a cabinet construction, the combinatior of a rigid frameworkcapable of sustaining a1 strains without appreciable deformation, readihdetachable panel members forming the cabinet front and top walls, meansfor rigidly attaching the bottom edge of said front panelmember only tothe frame, means for attaching the rear edge only of the top panelmember to the frame, the top panel member resting by gravity on the topof said frame and having a downturned front protruding portion adaptedto overlie the upper edge of the front panel to retain said front panelagainst the frame, whereby said front and top panel members may expandand contract without strain thereon.

12.-In a heating cabinet construction capable of standing all strainscaused by expansion or contraction without appreciable deformation, thecombination of a rigidinner structural skeleton framework includingspaced rigid vertical and horizontal members capable of sustaining allstrain without appreciable deformation, panel members forming the outercabinet walls and means for rigidly attaching said panel members to saidframe-work, so that said panel members may expand and contractindependently of said framework, and operating parts and insulation forsaid cabinet all directly mounted on said frame-work.

13. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation, comprising right angle bars joined together, a readilydetachable front panel for said cabinet having an enameled outer surfaceand side inturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame baredges, means to rigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom frontright angle frame bar, readily detachable side panels for said framestrains without appreciable deformation comprising bars joined together,a readily detachable front panel for said cabinet having side inturnedflanges adapted to overlie the respective frame bar edges, means torigidly attach the bottom thereof to the bottom front frame bar, readilydetachable side panels for said frame each having top, bottom and rearinturned flanges adapted to overlie the respective frame edges and aninset front flange adapted to underlie the side flange of the frontpanel member to constrain the front edge thereof in a manner to permitexpansion and contraction of said side panel, and means to rigidlyattach the rear inturned flange thereof to the rear side frame bar.

15. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open frame workcapable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation,readily detachable panel members forming cabinet walls having finishedexposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of saidpanel members to the frame-work, at least the opposite edge of some ofsaid panel members being arranged and adapted to be positioned on theframework in overlapping relation with other panel member edges.

16. In a cabinet construction, the combination of an open frame workcapable of sustaining all strains without appreciable deformation,readily detachable panel members forming cabinet walls having finishedexposed surfaces and means for rigidly attaching one edge only of saidpanel members to the frame-work, at least some of the adjacent edges ofsaid panel members being positioned on the frame-work in overlappingrelation.

17. In a cabinet construction, the combination of a rigid rectangularframework capable of sustaining all strains without appreciabledeformation, readily detachable panel members forming the cabinet side,front and top walls, having flnished exposed surfaces and means forattaching one edge only of said panel members to the frame, the oppositeedges of each of said side and front panel members being positioned inoverlapping relation on the frame.

